Process of electrically pulverizing metals.



y P. BABY. V PROCESS OF ELECTBICALLY PULVEBIZING METALS.

Patented May 20, m2.

(Application filed Apr. 11, 1901.)

(No Model.)

Witnesses:

. UNITED g STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL BABY, 0F PARIS, FRANCE.

PROCESS'OF EL ECTRICALL Y PULV-ERIZING -METALS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letterslatent N 0. 700,399, dated'May 20, 1902.

/ Application filed April 11, 190]. Serial No. 55,313 (No specimens.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL BABY, a citizen of the French Republic, and a resident of Paris, France, have invented'certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Electrically Pulverizing Metals, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my present invention is to provide an improved process of pulverizin g metals by means of the volatilization in electric sparks produced atgthepoint where the circuit is broken.

In the drawings, Figure '1 isa central vertical sectional view of, one form of mechanical means for interrupting the circuit. Fig. 2 is a like view showing another form of mechanical means for a like purpose. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of still another form for breaking the circuit. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional View of a fourth form of means for carrying out my process. Fig. 5is a transverse sectional view thereof, and Fig. 6 is a plan view. Fig. 7 is a perspective view illustrative of one ofthe'steps performed in carrying out the electrical process. V

Let it be assumed that the metal to be pul-. verized is in a molten state andcapable of flowing through an orifice, so as toform a thin liquidstratum. When an electric current is caused to pass through saidliquid stratum, said current being brought thereto, for instance, by means of the electrode A, Fig. 1, dippedinto the upper reservoir, and electrode B,.located in the lower. receptacle,

the lower receptacle necessarily containing:

sufficient quantity of the molten metalto enable the electrode B to' be engaged thereby, thus completing the circuit, and when by any desired means a break is produced in the liquid column a spark will be produced, which whether the-ruptureis effected mechanically or electrically. A

The mechanical means which may be employed are manifold, andin order to facilitate comprehension of the invention I will describe the preferred, forms of such means.

'(a) A;very simple means consists of a pad made of carbon or other suitable material and secured to the end of a rod T, alternately movedupward and downward, so, as to alternately obturate and open the outlet 0 of the reservoir.; ,(b) Another mechanical means consists'of arod T, Fig. 2, made of insulating I material and oscillating in a horizontal plane,

so as tocut the liquid columns at eachpassage. (c) Said horizontally oscillating rod may be replaced by a series of rods R R B, Fig. 3, radially arranged, ona common hub M, to 'whicha suitable rotary'motion is imparted.

Oneof the steps,-the,electric or preferred; I

means,ofcarrying out'the' process is shown in Fig. 7 and is based upon the experimental fact that when a liquid conductor is traversed bya suflicientlyintensive current said con- 'ductor will "be contracted until it is completely 4 cut off. When the conductor is formed, as I herein described,'of a'thin liquid stratum, the current will be closed again immediately after the break thereof to be again broken, and so on. Thus I produce without the medium of mechanical means a series of quick inter.- ruptions.say several hundred per second, in accordance withthe practical conditionsadapted to vaporize an important quantity of metal.

In Fig. 7,;1 designates a block of any' suitspecial arrangement adapted for pulverizing,

tin, lead, and other easily-fusiblemetals and alloys or mixtures. The materials employed in the construction of said apparatus are evi dently to be selected so as not-to be influenced by the metal to be pulverized. In said figures, A designates a tank adapted to contain molten metal flowing in thin strata through a greater or less number of nozzles a a, secured to tubes t t, secured to the bottom of the tank and having an orifice t at their lower portion, said tubes having a sufficient length so that their ends will extend upward beyond the level of the molten metal. The object of said tubes is to provide means enabling a suitable point to reach the nozzles should the latter be obturated. lhe base B, on which rests the tank A, is insulated from the latter by means of a ring R, made of asbestos or other suitable insulating material. Arranged opposite to each nozzle is a head 0, carried by a rod 8, from which starts the current. The metal flowing from the nozzle drops upon the head and is deflected laterally upon the bottom F, made of fireproof material. The current is brought to the upper tank by means of a terminal P, to which is attached the feedwire. The current is in communication through the molten metal with the thin strata formed between or and c. The current then passes through the rod 5, electrically connected with a suitable resistance S, (serving to heat the tank A and hold the metal in a liquid state,) whence the current passes through the tube T, to which is attached at N the second wire. The tube T serves also the purpose of bringing into the apparatus the gases serving to carry away the metallic powder through the outlet E. Molten metal which has not been vaporized flows into the box or receptacle M,whence it is again brought into the upper tank.

The improved apparatus is adapted to be operated by alternate as well as by continuous currents.

The neutral gas brought into the apparatus through the tube T and serving to carry away the metallic powder may be of any desired nature, so as to act on said powder either for oxidizing or sulfurizing purposes.

Having fully described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A process for pulverizing metals, which consists in first, causing the metal to flow in streams, then passing electric currents throughout the length thereof,and then breaking said streams at a point in the flow traversed by the electric current to enable the current to act on the metal on each break of the circuit, substantially as described.

2. A process for pulverizing metals, which consists in melting the metal, causing the same to flow in streams, passing current of electricity through said streams of suiiicient intensity to contract said streams until the same are completely out off to enable the currents to act on the metal on each break of the circuit, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

PAUL BARY.

\Vitnesses:

ADOLPIIIE Srumr, EDWARD I. MACLEAN. 

